This study’s results also suggest directions for future research. Contrary to expectations, we did not find any evidence associating pandemic-related stressors with mild relapse, and our exploration of specific stressors found few differences between women and men. Given that a majority of the sample was in long-term recovery, it is possible that they had already developed robust coping responses that protected their recovery. Alternately, it is possible that our study design prevented us from detecting any association. As noted above, persons reporting current heavy drinking were excluded from the study. These may be the very people for whom an association exists between COVID-related stressors and relapse. Thus, this finding cannot be considered definitive. Studies using alternate designs are needed to test the relationship between COVID-19 stressors and relapse, including differential effects by gender.
